Marty stuart

[chopaholic]

I saw Marty last night here in Iowa and before the show I could see his Gibson up on the dimly lit stage, and wondered if he had a Loar. His "roadie" was selling CDs next to the stage, so I asked him if he knew anything about Marty's instruments. He said, "what would you like to know?". So I asked if it was a Loar and he said no, it was made in 1982, do you want to see it? I nodded and he jumped on stage and brought it over. Suffice it to say, Marty doesn't care about scratches as he has had everybody who's anybody in music, scratch their names into every available square inch of that thing. That will be a hall of fame piece someday!
As far as the performance, he was playing solo. Just himself and his guitar or mandolin. He stated that this was I believe only the third time he has ever performed without a band. It was a great show. The guy is flat out talented. For any of you fellow cafe members around eastern Iowa, Stuart plays tonight at The Mill in Iowa City.Check it out.

[AlanN]

Awesome, always dug Marty.

[Kevin K]

Marty is very talented and can make that mandolin talk.

[ponyfiddle]

Oh, you're killing me. I used to live in Iowa City and frequented The Mill. Aaaargh!

[chopaholic]

I just saw a short interview on the CMT website where Marty explains that his "Gibson" is a copy that he paid $650 for when he was about 14 years old. That would make that mandolin at least 35 years old. The roadie was off by about 10 years. Stuart also states that Johnny Cash got bored one night and carved his initials and a cross into the back with his pocket knife, which started the ball rolling.
By the way, not knowing it was a copy I expected it to sound good. After all, it said "The Gibson" on it, and it did indeed sound great. Or maybe I just thought it sounded great because it said "The Gibson" on it. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

[f5loar]

It's a Rural Yarbough/Marion Kirk F5 Loar copy. Kirk learned to build the F5 from Randy Wood. Marty is most talented and would do well in a solo setting. I thought it was more of an early 70's model since he was born l958 and being 14 would be 1972 so something is off there if he told you 1982.

[Ken Berner]

Not to deter from the Marty thought here, but I heard that Rhonda Vincent plays/played a copy of a Gibson F5. I don't recall the name of the builder, but the mandolins must have been spectacular. A few years ago, I was in the local music emporium and everyone was inspecting another Gibson "copy". This one was a very poor example and would deceive very few musicians. I guess there are several instances where the Gibson name has been mis-used.

[David M.]

Dang it, dang it, dang it. I forgot about that show. I'm down in Muscatine. That's a great room to see and play. Wish I had made it. I have a buddy who saw Vince Gill the night before at the Adler and said it was amazing and he WAS playing his Loar on stage.

BTW, we've got a new session going here in Muscatine every Thurs. night at 7:00. Strictly old time fiddle tunes (Celtic and some rags, etc.). no singing. Pretty good session.

The guy running the jam is Chris Foss, owner of the NEW music store here in Muscatine, 'Round The Bend music.

PM me w/details. I may PM you just to give you an official invite.

[SternART]

Years ago, Rhonda used to play a Cliff Sargent......older gentleman from Sacramento,
a Loar owner and luthier in retirement. Cliff passed away in 2004.

[DryBones]

Not to deter from the Marty thought here, but I heard that Rhonda Vincent plays/played a copy of a Gibson F5. I don't recall the name of the builder, but the mandolins must have been spectacular. A few years ago, I was in the local music emporium and everyone was inspecting another Gibson "copy". This one was a very poor example and would deceive very few musicians. I guess there are several instances where the Gibson name has been mis-used.

Doesn't Rhonda play a Smith Creek?

[superc_1]

I saw Marty and his band this last spring in Eureka Springs, Arkansas blue grass festival and it was a first class act. I would drive a long way to see him play again. When it comes to playing the mandolin there would be very few who could hold a candle to him. If you ever get the chance everybody should take the time to see him. You know your special when you get picked to play in Ralph Stanley's band at the age of 14 years old.

[Greenmando]

Doesn't Rhonda play a Smith Creek?

That's what she told me.

[SternART]

Ken, If it was a "copy of a Gibson" and it even said "The Gibson" on the headstock it was a Cliff Sargent.
This was back several years ago, if I'm not mistaken she has traded insruments a few times since then.

[AlanN]

Years ago, Rhonda used to play a Cliff Sargent......older gentleman from Sacramento,
a Loar owner and luthier in retirement. Cliff passed away in 2004.

Cliff was a nice guy and talented builder.

I remember a LoarFest at IBMA one year, Gilchrist was covering a topic, had everybody's attention at the front of the room. All of a sudden, we hear a 'clatter, clatter' with ringing strings from the back. Cliff had apparently dropped one of his mandolins on the floor. Gilchrist momentarily stopped talking, then resumed.

It was a moment.

And back to Marty, one year at Bass Mtn, he did a workshop at the museum, had Tony Williamson back him up. They picked Watson's Blues, quite well.

[AlanN]

You know your special when you get picked to play in Ralph Stanley's band at the age of 14 years old.

Think it was Lester Flatt's band...

[Wesley]

If Marty was performing solo - what type of mandolin material was he doing?

[don richards]

Alan...is correct! - no harm intended, but perhaps the previous poster was thinking of Ricky Scaggs. Marty was quoted as saying "... I grew up on Lester Flatt's bus." - Lester had to ask his(Marty's) parent's "permission" to take Marty #"on the road". Moose. #

[poymando]

I had heard that Marty's mandolin was made by Chris Warner.
Anyone out there second that?

[chopaholic]

If Marty was performing solo - what type of mandolin material was he doing?

Quite honestly, I'm not sure of the names of the songs because I get more wrapped up in how he is playing rather than what he is playing. Some of it had a bluesy feel, but the best for me was a Monroe tune I believe, and I didn't catch the title. It was instrumental and kind of resembled "House of the Rising Sun". Maybe that description will ring a bell with some of you.

[chopaholic]

I had heard that Marty's mandolin was made by Chris Warner.
Anyone out there second that?

You are correct. I just reviewed the video interview on the CMT website, and he states that Chris Warner did indeed make the mandolin.

[evanreilly]

I am certain that the Monroe instrumental Marty did was "My Last Days on Earth', and he does a great job of it.
After all...

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

what a great picture Evan!
Marty has been a great inspiration to me over the years.

rasa
Jonathan Reinhardt

[bud]

Dang Evan, you never cease to amaze me with these photos, or little bits of information regarding Monroe. You must have a storehouse full of this stuff.

Looking forward to seeing Marty at Merlefest and Rockygrass this year.

Bud

[f5loar]

Chris Warner was in with Rual Y. and M. Kirk. All that Alabama gang I call them. Did Marty have 2 mandolins? One in '72 and one in '82? Might be talking 2 different mandolins here.

[F5G WIZ]

You mean this one?